In episode 7, Gena Sikorsky Mitchell is joined by Michelle Sie Whitten, President & CEO of Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GDSF).  Based out of Denver, CO, GDSF is dedicated to improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through research, medical care, education, and advocacy. Together Michelle and Gena discuss the range of topics related to the employment of individuals with Down syndrome that are connected to their improved medical care, life span, and quality of life that is directly related to GDSF’s mission and work. 

In episode 6 Gena Sikorsky Mitchell takes a closer look at the hiring process from the perspective of employment as an industry. She explores how skillsets and criteria drive the typical process and that to disregard this established process is a disservice to both employers and individuals with developmental disabilities.

In episode 5, Gena Sikorsky Mitchell is joined by Jade Gingerich, Director of Employment Policy, Department of Disabilities for the State of Maryland. Together they discuss how to incorporate the lifespan of individuals with developmental disabilities for the employment IDD.

In episode 4, Gena Sikorsky Mitchell continues the conversation with Dr. Cami Fawzy, with a focus on the importance of allies in the workplace and the importance of developing clear skills and other strengths that would make it easier for individuals with developmental disabilities to access competitive, inclusive employment. Dr. Fawzy co-authored a book titled The Inclusive Management Strategy: Engineering Culture Change for employees with disabilities, a book chapter titled Friends or Foes: Dynamics Between OCBs, Contexts, and Innovation Development as well as several research articles focused on inclusive cultures for employees with diverse backgrounds and returning expatriates.

In episode 3, Gena Sikorsky Mitchell is joined by Dr. Cami Fawzy, a successful organizational development consultant and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of leadership experience in multicultural settings. Using evidence-based research, she coaches leaders through culture change design and implementation aiming to create authentically inclusive and high-performing teams and organizations. Dr. Fawzy co-authored a book titled The Inclusive Management Strategy: Engineering Culture Change for employees with disabilities, a book chapter titled Friends or Foes: Dynamics Between OCBs, Contexts, and Innovation Development as well as several research articles focused on inclusive cultures for employees with diverse backgrounds and returning expatriates.

Dr. Fawzy conducts interactive training programs and workshops enhancing participants’ Emotional Intelligence (EI), Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and leadership skills. She is the co-founder of ASANTe, a startup on a mission to use innovative web 3 technology to improve CSR structures and enhance the positive impact that conscious businesses have in the world. 

Cami also feels privileged to be the Mom of two amazing sons, her youngest experiencing life with (dis)abilities related to his Down Syndrome & Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnoses. 

In episode 2, host Gena Sikorsky Mitchell picks up the conversation and begins to explore possible ideas and solutions to consider regarding the business conversation of hiring individuals with developmental disabilities (IDD).  She incorporates the premise for what “basic block” means in relation to both special education and employment while examining the duality of an entitlement-based system and a for-profit system/environment. 

In the Inaugural Episode of the Basic Block Hiring Podcast, host Gena Sikorsky Mitchell, welcomes listeners to the business conversation of hiring individuals with developmental disabilities (IDD).  She touches on the fundamental thoughts and ideas such as the economic impact of not hiring IDD, special education as a business plan, paralyzed by individualized, the glass ceiling of awareness & advocacy, dismantling the personalization of IDD, and dismantling the victimization of IDD among others,  that set the stage for what listeners can expect to dig into with future guests and episodes.